#RMS_002

For decades, anthropologists characterized the indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest primarily as hunter-gatherers who passively harvested the region's natural bounty. However, recent archaeological investigations along the coastline have revealed extensive stone terrace structures known as 'clam gardens' constructed in the intertidal zone. These rock walls were built at the low-tide line to trap sediment and flatten the slope of the beach. By expanding the habitat suitable for butter clams and littleneck clams, these structures significantly increased shellfish productivity. Furthermore, the act of tending these gardens—tilling the sediment to aerate it and removing predators—ensured sustainable yields over generations. These findings challenge the traditional binary classification of agriculturalists versus foragers, suggesting that marine management was as sophisticated as terrestrial farming. The existence of such systems indicates that the coastal ecosystem was not merely exploited opportunistically but was actively engineered to ensure long-term food security. What is the author's primary argument regarding the discovery of clam gardens?